Improvement in the manufacture of silicon steel



STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

CHARLES M. NES, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILICON STEEL- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 112,068, dated February 21, 1871. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. NEs, of York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel, of which the following is a specificagreatly-increased percentage of silicon and a greatly-reduced percentage of carbon, as

compared with steel now in use. In order to introduce this silicon into the iron, I prefer to use a silicious magnetic ore, composed in the main of free silica and the magnetic silicide of iron, which may be found in Heidelburg township, York county, Pennsylvania, at a place known as N'ess Hill. The ore is not, however, limited to this locality, but may be found in many other places; and while I prefer the use of an ore such as described, yet any other substance, whether artificially pre pared or not, which will effect substantially the same result, may be used.

As above stated, the peculiar characteristic of the steel herein claimed lies in the greatlyincreased quantity of silicon which it contains an element which seems to take the place of the carbon in great measure.

An analysis of a very high steel made in accordance with my invention is as follows:

Carbon 0600 Silicon 0.552

Iron, 86c 98.848

former to two of the latter. This steel, which may be termed silicon steel, is much better in many respects than the steel now in use. It has increased malleability, tensile strength of material, and greater hardness in tempering. It is capable of sustaining a higher heat, and possesses better welding properties. It may be reheated without injuring its quality, and Kris highly magnetic. The silicon takes the place of carbon to a great extent, and the result is the production of a superior steel, whetherwrought or cast.

To enable those skilled in .the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to indicate the manner in which the steel may be produced, using the ore hereinbefore specified as the steel-making agent.

One method I have adopted of making caststeel is as follows: I-employ an ordinary runout, such as is used in forges, large enough to contain, say, two tons of metal. On each side of this I have a pot with a hearth at the end, the flue of which communicates with the staokof the run-out. These pots are lower than the chamber or pot of the run-out, and will hold half a ton each, more or less. To the run-out I have water-tnyeres attached, so that I can blow on the fuel and pig-iron. I take six bushels of coke and put one-half of it into the pot or chamber of the rurront. I then take one ton of pig metalanthracite or charcoal-Nos. 1 2, and 3, mixed in about equal proportions, and place a layer of it crosswise over the pot in which the coke has been placed, then place a layer of coke upon the layer of metal, and so on alternately until all the metal has been piled on. To the ton of metal I take from one-fifth to one-third of a ton of the ore hereinbeibre named, in a washed or unwashed condition, and preferably broken up in pieces about the size of the pieces of coke, which I either mix with the coke or put into the runout when the metal is nearly melted. I now proceed to blow from the water-tuyeres a blast onto the mass until the metal is perfectly melted and the ore thoroughly mixed with it by boiling. When the metal is nearly ready to come to nature I run it into the side furnace-pots, one-half into each, where I stir it fora short time with a rabble, taking out in a ladle a small quantity of the metal to ascertain whether it will bear the hammer. hen I find it will do so I tap it out into molds of any shape desired.

When I desire to make wrough t-steel I proceed in the same manner, stirring the metal in the side pots or furnacesuntil it balls or comes to nature.

I also sometimes produce cast-steel as follows: I take an ordinary cupola, having a capacity of from one to five tons, with a damplate and cinder-tap, as in blast-furnaces with water-tuyeres attached. I now put in six hundred pounds of coal, more or less, or an equivalent amount of coke or charcoal, and one ton of pig-iron mixed with from one-fifth. to one-half of a ton of ore,.depending whether a low or high steel is required.- I now blow onto the mass till it is thoroughly melted and the cinder begins to rise. I then tap off the cinder and continue. blowing, tapping off through a small orifice for the purpose a small quantity of the metal, to ascertain whether it will bear the hammer. When assuredvof that fact I tap the metal in to molds of any required shape.

If I desire to make wrought-steel from the same, I run the metal from the 'cupola to a lumping fire or furnace, ordinarily employed-- for the purpose of balling up metal, and there stir the metal, ballit up, and then put it under the hammer. I

I have thus indicated one ortwo modes in which my improved steel can be produced; but it is manifest that any apparatus suitable for making steel can be employed for the purpose, such as the converter, Danks furnace, &c., and while I can use ordinary commercial pig, yet any other suitable cast-iron may be employed.

I do not limit myself to the precise proportion of ore herein specified, as a greater or less percentage may be successfully employed in many instances; nor, as above stated, do I confine myself to the use of the ore found in {he particular locality hereiubefore named;

nit

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The improved steel or steel-like metal herein described, and denominated silicon steel, in which the ratio of silicon to carbon is not less than one to two:

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

. Witnesses: CHAS. M. NES.

M. BAILEY, r EDM. F. BROWN. 

